Rapper C-Murder's conviction, sentence upheld

FILE - This Aug. 16 file photo shows Rapper Corey Miller, who once went by the stage name of C-Murder, in New Orleans. A Louisiana appeals court has upheld the murder conviction and life imprisonment sentence of rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller for a teenager's 2002 shooting death. (AP Photo/Alex B

/ AP

FILE - This Aug. 16 file photo shows Rapper Corey Miller, who once went by the stage name of C-Murder, in New Orleans. A Louisiana appeals court has upheld the murder conviction and life imprisonment sentence of rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller for a teenager's 2002 shooting death. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file)

FILE - This Aug. 16 file photo shows Rapper Corey Miller, who once went by the stage name of C-Murder, in New Orleans. A Louisiana appeals court has upheld the murder conviction and life imprisonment sentence of rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller for a teenager's 2002 shooting death. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file) (/ AP)

MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, Associated Press

A Louisiana appeals court has upheld the murder conviction and life sentence for rapper C-Murder.

C-Murder, whose real name is Corey Miller, was convicted of shooting a teenager to death in 2002.

A three-judge panel from the state's 5th Circuit Court of Appeal on Wednesday rejected Miller's argument that he didn't get a fair trial.

In 2009, a jury convicted Miller of second-degree murder for shooting 16-year-old Steve Thomas during a confrontation at a nightclub.

Miller claims the judge who presided over his trial allowed jurors to hear prejudicial and unsubstantiated testimony that he threatened witnesses to the shooting. He also accused prosecutors of systematically eliminating black people from the jury.